Summary
The applicant, a 41-year-old federal contractor employee and single mother of six, faced trustworthiness concerns under Guideline F due to multiple delinquent debts totaling $37,161. Despite some efforts to address her financial issues, including hiring a debt relief company, the applicant failed to provide sufficient documentation of debt resolution or financial stability. The judge concluded that the applicant did not mitigate the financial considerations trustworthiness concerns, resulting in a denial of eligibility for access to sensitive information.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: judgments- $2,600 (1.a). judgments- $1,300 (1.b). automobile accounts- $1,593 (1.c). automobile accounts- $7,913 (1.d). student loan debt- $3,497 (1.e). student loan debt- $3,349 (1.f). student loan debt- $3,323 (1.g). student loan debt- $3,262 (1.h). student loan debt- $2,478 (1.i). student loan debt- $1,870 (1.j). student loan debt- $1,868 (1.k). consumer debts- $829 (1.l). consumer debts- $817 (1.m). consumer debts- $505 (1.n). consumer debts- $190 (1.o). telecommunications debt- $106 (1.p). miscellaneous debts- $76 (1.q). miscellaneous debts- $613 (1.r). miscellaneous debts- $441 (1.s). miscellaneous debts- $531 (1.t).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(c). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(d). The decision turned on the following: The applicant has numerous unresolved delinquent debts totaling $37,161; Minimal efforts were made to resolve the debts, and no evidence of financial counseling was provided; The applicant failed to produce documentation supporting her disputes of the debts.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant has numerous unresolved delinquent debts totaling $37,161.
- Minimal efforts were made to resolve the debts, and no evidence of financial counseling was provided.
- The applicant failed to produce documentation supporting her disputes of the debts.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant's financial problems were exacerbated by being a single mother without child support.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsMinimal evidence of good-faith efforts to resolve debts was presented.
Key Rule Quoted
“Failure or inability to live within one’s means, satisfy debts, and meet financial obligations may indicate poor self-control, lack of judgment, or unwillingness to abide by rules and regulations, all of which can raise questions about an individual’s reliability, trustworthiness and ability to protect classified information.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedOct 28, 2014
- Answer filedDec 3, 2014
- Hearing heldMay 20, 2015
- Decision dateAug 27, 2015
Cite For
- Financial Considerations Under Guideline F
- Impact of Unresolved Debts on Trustworthiness
- Consideration of Personal Circumstances in Financial Evaluations